Drive means for double-ended socket wrenches



Oct, 13 1953 v. P. cARRmK ETAL DRIVE MEANS FOR DOUBLE-ENDED SOCKET WRENCHES Filed Oct. 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l Wa/fw' 5. Cafes INVENTOR Oct 1 1953 v. P. CARRICK ET AL DRIVE MEANS FOR DOUBLE-ENDED SOCKET WRENCHEZS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 15, 1952 Fig.3

INVENTORE Patented Oct. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRIVE MEANS FOR DOUBLE-ENDED SOCKET WRENCHES Virgil P. Garrick and Walter B. Gates, High Point, N. C.

Application October 13, 1952, Serial No. 314,432

4 Claims.

drivers, wrenches, etc., may be quickly, easily and r expeditiously rotated.

The above object is achieved by the provision of what may be called a rotary actuator which is equipped with sockets to selectively receive a variety of different tools, an important feature of the invention residing in the provision of means for rapidly rotating a drive unit of the actuator to which the tools are connected.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for locking the drive unit to its housing so that the actuator may be turned in a comparatively slow manner by hand, such for example, in the initial stage of lessening the ultimate stage of tightening screws, bolts, or the like.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, in its eificient and dependable operation, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

With the above more important objects and features in view, and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention in use.

Figure 2 is a group perspective View thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the invention.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken su stantially in the plane of the line 44 in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially in the plane of the line 5-5 in Figure 3, and

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are perspective views of various tools such as may be used in connection with the invention.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a rotary tool actuator which is designated generally by the reference character It and embodies in its construction a substantially cylindrical housing I2 which has open ends provided with in-turned annular flanges I4 functioning as retainers for a pair of anti-friction bearings Hi which are mounted in the end portions of the housing.

The housing 52 also accommodates a rotatable drive unit designated generally by the reference character !8, the same including a pair of end members 29, 22, which are formed integrally with cylindrical adapters 24, the latter having polygonal bores 26 to receive a polygonal shank 28.

ihe adapters 2d are in abutment and transverse pins 32 extend through the adapters and through the shank 28 so as to hold the end memhere 20, 22 together.

The end members 25, 22 are provided with races 2%, 22a respectively, which are engaged by the aforementioned bearings it so as to rotatably sustain the entire drive unit IS in the housing !2.

It is to be observed that the end members 2%, 22 project slightly through the open ends or" the housing and are formed with polygonal sockets 34 to receive in an interchangeable fashion removable tools 35, 38, 40, etc, which are held in the sockets by spring pressed keeper elements 42 of any conventional type.

' A spool M is slidably and rotatably positioned on the adapters 24 of the drive unit [8 and is formed integrally with an over running clutch member 46 which is engageable with a coacting clutch member 38 provided on the end member 22. A spring pressed pin 50 carried by the end member 29, slidably engages a groove 5:; formed in one end of the spool 44, whereby to urge the spool toward the member 22 so that the clutch members 46, 48 ar in engagement. The spring associated with the pin is shown at 56 and it will be noted that the pin 50 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drive unit l8 so as to function in the manner described.

A resilient, flexible tape 58 is windable on the spool 44 to which it is secured at its inner end by a screw 60, the outer end of the tape 58 projecting outwardly through a lateral opening or slot 62 with which the housing i2 is formed. A grip 64 is provided at the outer end of the tape 58 and it is to be understood that the resiliency of the tape is such as to normally cause the same to wind itself upon the spool 44.

However, when the tape 58 is pulled outwardly from the housing rapid rotation is imparted to the entire drive unit l8 and to the tools 36, 38, 40, or the like, such as may be connected to the drive unit. The arrangement of the over-running clutch 46, 48 is such that when the tape 58 is pulled outwardly from the housing, rotation of the spool 44 is transmitted through the clutch to the drive unit 18. However, when the tape 53 is released and is permitted to wind itself back upon the spool 44, the clutch member 46 merely skips over the clutch member 48 without imparting any 3 rotation to the drive unit. In that manner, unidirectional rotary movement is imparted to the drive unit by successive outward and inward movement of the actuating tape, as will be readily understood.

Of course, when the work such as for example, a bolt head or a nut illustrated at 66 in Figure l, is to be tightenedgitis.engagedzby .thetoohat one end of the device, :and'when the bolt or nutis to be loosened, the device is simply inverted so as to rotate the work in the relatively opposite rection.

Means are provided for initial loosening; '01, ultimate tightening of the work by compartively slow, hand effort, that is, by rotating-whe-heusing 12 together with the drive unit l8 as a unitywithout actuating the tape 58. These means involve the provision of a plurality of -"locking pins 68' which are mounted on resilient fingers NrSQCllFBQ by rivets 12 to the housing 12 at the outside of the latter, the locking pins 68, projecting throngh suitable apertures 14 into the housing and being r c ivable. in l nd ad a fb es 16 n the end member'zz of thev drive unit.

Thus, when the housing 12 is gripped by the hand so as to press the fingers l0 inwardly, the pins 68 are received in 'the apertures 16 and the entire drive unit 18. is locked a ainst rotation in the ho si g so hat t may u e b and i unison with the housing when substantial torque is to be applied to the work.

To facilitate assembly of the device, the housing .l2 is preferably composed of two complemental sections, Na, [22), which are separably connected together by suitable screws 18.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing disclosure and accordingl further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been .shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it .is to be understood that minor changes inthe details of construction, combina; .tion and arrangement of par-ts may be resorted .to without departing from the spirit .and .scope of the invention as claimed.

.Having'described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. .A rotary tool actuator comprising a -sub-,

stantially cylindrical housing constituting a handle, said housing having open ends and being provided with a lateral opening, an elongated drive unit rotatably mounted in the housing and provided at the ends thereof with tool receiving sockets projecting through the open ends of the housing, a spool rotata'bly mounted intermediate the ends of said :drive unit, e. -resilient :actuating element wound on said/spool and projecting outwardly from the housing through said open- :ing, and an over-running clutch operatively connecting said spool to said drive unit for rotating thelajtter when said element is pulled outwardly from the housing.

2. 'ilmeiiericezas defined in claim 1 wherein said :spooliis slidable as well as rotatable on said drive .unit, said overrunning clutch comprising a clutch member provided-on said spool, a coacting clutch member-provided on said drive unit, and resilient means for sliding said spool to a position wherein the clutch members .are in engagement.

3. The device asidefine'd in claiml whereix said drive unitcomprises a pair of end =members having said sockets provided therein, a pair of abut-. tingcylindrical adapters provided on the respective end members, and a coupling shank disposed axially in and securing said adapters together, said spool beingslidably and rotatably positioned onsaid adapters.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 together with means-provided on-said-housing and en a e, able with said drive unit for locking the vlatter against rotation in the housing.

VIRGIL P. CARRIC-K.

GATES.

References Cited in the file of this vpatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,306,553 Morrison June 10, 1919 1,903,514 ,Merriman et a1. Apr. 11, 1933 2,292,391 'Merriman et a1 Aug. 11, 1942 2,365,839 Pike Dec. 26, 1944 2,530,553 Strobell Nov. 21, 19.50 2,594,964 Meyers Apr. 29, 1952 2,603,996 Schellenger July 22 1952 2,603,998 Schwartz July 22, 1952 2,614,418 Shaft Oct. '21, 1952 2,614,419 Shafi' V Oct. 21, .1952 

